With the stakes so high, the vote began in a tense environment.
Election watchdogs, including ISFED, reported three cases of suspected vote buying, and local media reported an incident involving a physical confrontation at one of the polling stations. According to local publication Publika, an opposition activist was beaten.
A video circulated online shows a man identified as a ruling party leader stuffing dozens of ballots into a ballot box at a polling station in Marnouri, southern Georgia.
The Central Election Commission reported voter turnout at 9.27% as of 10 a.m. Tbilisi time.
“I am confident that the majority of the population will choose a European future for Georgia,” Tina Bokuchava, leader of the opposition United National Movement party, said after the vote.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, used the moment to describe the opposition as “warmongers” and aimed to drag Georgia into war with Russia.
